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Going green with stimulus

Pa. college expands its weatherization center.

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Pennsylvania College of Technology unveiled its expanded Weatherization Training Center recently, showcasing a facility that now has the opportunity to educate more people on the installation of green technology.

The training facility, at 2245 Reach Rd., is one of the first nationwide to expand its operations in response to a growing demand fueled by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act support, college officials said.

Since 1985, the Weatherization Training Center at the college has provided technical education and training to professionals who implement programs helping low-income households reduce their energy consumption and costs, according to the college.

With the help of federal funds along with the training center's expansion, the Weatherization Training Center doubled its size, according to college officials, with a new footprint of about 16,000 square feet.

Construction took about five months and cost more than $100,000, which will be paid for by federal funds administered through the state, according to officials.

The facility now has two dedicated, multimedia-equipped classrooms; two similarly equipped classrooms that can be used for training purposes; a weatherization tactics lab; a weatherization diagnostics and energy conservation lab; and office space for instructors and support staff.

Before the expansion, the center trained 250 to 350 people per year, and now it is expected to exceed 1,000 men and women in the coming year, college officials said.